Background and Relevance of Key Figures
Chileans are set to vote in the presidential election on Sunday, marked by fear of crime, immigration, and organized crime that has taken root in just a few years. This is far from the optimism of the left and hope for drafting a new constitution that dominated the previous electoral contest.
According to polls, crime now surpasses the economy, health, or education as the primary concern. In Ipsos’ “What’s Worrying the World?” October survey, 63% of respondents identified crime as their main worry, placing Chile second among 30 countries, including Mexico, Colombia, and South Africa.
Despite being one of the safest countries in Latin America, Chile has seen a significant rise in crime rates. The homicide rate increased from 2.32 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015 to 6.0 in 2024, with kidnappings reaching a historical high of 868 in 2024. The prosecution linked 40% of these crimes to organized crime.
Impact on Chilean Society
Daylight shootings, contract killings, dismemberments, and extortion kidnappings—a reality for some time in other parts of the region but rare in Chile—have shaken the country and even affected the economy as people adjust their daily habits.
This surge coincides with a Venezuelan migrant wave, rising from 82,998 in 2017 to 669,408 in 2024, according to the latest census data. The negative reaction has intertwined with the crime debate.
A survey conducted this year by research firm Activa revealed that 85.2% of Chileans feel socially distant from Venezuelans, up from 55.2% in 2019.
Societal Perspectives
Lucía Dammert, a sociologist at the University of Santiago specializing in organized crime in Latin America, states that the significant increase in migrants and crime post-pandemic has created a double impact on a country accustomed to having neither.
“We’re still reeling from those shocks,” Dammert said. “And that’s very much expressed in the political debate, which hasn’t been able to shake off the shock and has capitalized enormously on this problem.”
Venezuelan Migrants and Political Race
Competition
The vote on Sunday pits Jeannette Jara, the left-wing coalition’s candidate for the Communist Party, against several right-wing aspirants. The race is likely to be decided in a runoff on December 14, with polls favoring far-right candidate José Antonio Kast.
Kast, in his third presidential bid, has pledged to deport all illegal immigrants and his “Border Shield” plan includes building a five-meter limit wall with three-meter ditches and an electrical fence.
No place has become a hotspot for migration and crime more than the desert borders of northern Chile with Peru and Bolivia.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the main candidates? Jeannette Jara, representing the ruling left-wing coalition and the Communist Party, and José Antonio Kast, a right-wing candidate running for his third presidential bid.
- What are their stances on crime and immigration? Jara has not emphasized these issues as prominently as Kast, who has pledged to deport all illegal immigrants and proposed a border security plan involving a five-meter wall, ditches, and an electrical fence.
- How has crime affected Chilean society? Crime rates have risen significantly, with homicides increasing from 2.32 per 100,000 inhabitants in 2015 to 6.0 in 2024, and kidnappings reaching a historical high of 868 in 2024. The prosecution linked 40% of these crimes to organized crime.
- What is the impact of Venezuelan migration on Chile? The Venezuelan migrant population has grown from 82,998 in 2017 to 669,408 in 2024. This has contributed to a negative reaction intertwined with the crime debate, with 85.2% of Chileans feeling socially distant from Venezuelans, according to a recent survey.
